Soil conditioner

ABSTRACT

A soil conditioner is described, which contains an electrolyte that is compatible with the soil and an invert sugar in a ratio of about 20:1 to 1:10. This material is active not only in the normal agricultural area, but also in the forestry area as a highly efficient soil conditioner. The soil is consequently regenerated, so that the plants assimilate better and noticeable increases in yield are achieved in the agricultural area.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a soil conditioner containing a sugar, as wellas the use of this conditioner to increase soil ionization and the yieldof cultivated plants.

STATE OF THE ART

The German Offenlegungsschrift 2,500,004 relates to a method for thepreparation of a soil conditioner, which contains organic materials. Inthe moist state, the organic materials are intended to provide a colloidform, which is suitable for enclosing energy-storing compounds, withwhich a gradually setting-in interaction with the living soil isinitiated and the utilization of biologically activating processesthereby is improved. One of the organic materials given is cane sugar.Moreover, it is said to be advisable to add phosphoric acid.

The German Patent 2,537,617 is concerned with a method for thepreparation of a soil conditioner by mixing technical phosphoric acidwith urea, saccharide being added as a further component. Thisconditioner is applied on the soil as an aqueous mixture.

There are no concrete numbers, which confirm the effectiveness of thesoil conditioners described above. The invention described in thefollowing shows that the desirable improvement in soil quality and theincrease in the yield of cultivated plants is not achieved only by theuse of can sugar. Rather, surprising advantages can be achieved byselecting a special saccharide.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is therefor an object of the invention to develop known soilconditioners further, so that they shown an improved soil efficiency inthe soil, which can also be confirmed by a noticeable increase in theyield of cultivated plants.

Pursuant to the invention, this objective is accomplished owing to thefact that the soil conditioner contains an electrolyte, which iscompatible with the soil, and an invert sugar in a ratio of about 20:1to 1:10.

The essence of the inventive soil conditioner lies in the combination ofan invert sugar and electrolyte, which is compatible with the soil, in aparticular ratio by weight. Within the meaning of the invention, "invertsugar" refers to the mixture of glucose and fructose, which is formedwith inversion of the optical rotation when cane or beet sugar (sucrose)is subjected to the action of acids and/or invertase, and which conferssweetness, for example, on honey and artificial honey. Within the scopeof the invention, it is preferred if the invert sugar has a degree ofinversion of about 55 to 75%, preferably of 60 to 70% and especially ofabout 66%.

Aside from the invert sugar of the type described above, the inventivesoil conditioner must contain an electrolyte, which provides for aspecial ionization of the treated soil. This electrolyte is composedpreferably of an alkali metal of an organic acid compatible with thesoil, such as formic acid, acetic acid and propionic acid. Within thescope of the invention, sodium acetate is preferred.

Further additives, which exert additional effects on the soil, such asthe additives, which are contained in the above-mentioned soilconditioners of the state of the art, may be incorporated into theinventive soil conditioners.

The essential components of the inventive soil conditioner that havebeen mentioned (electrolyte/invert sugar) should be contained in thissoil conditioner in a ratio by weight of about 20:1 to 1:10 andespecially of about 10:1. In the practical application, they arepreferably applied in an aqueous solution with a concentration of about1 to 0.01% by weight and especially of about 0.1% weight on the soilthat is to be treated. An advantageous, inventive soil conditioner isobtained, for example, if about 10 parts by weight of a 25% by weightaqueous solution of acetic acid, about 70 parts by weight of an about50% by weight sodium hydroxide solution and about 30 parts by weight ofinvert sugar are mixed together, preferably with cooling, and thissolution is then diluted with water to the percentage by weight rangementioned above.

The inventive soil conditioner brings about an advantageous vegetationphase and, by increasing the ionization of the coil, an improvement inthe assimilation by the cultivated plants, the invert sugar portion beingabsorbed by the plants in an advantageous manner and the assimilationbeing increased thereby. Koening, of the Kernforschungszentrum inKarlsruhe, for example, deals with importance of the ionization of thesoil in "Umschau" 1986, No. 2, pages 109/110. Presumably, the soilmicroorganisms or microfungi, which contributed to an improvedvegetation of the cultivated soils, are activated by the use of aqueoussoil conditioners. Field experiments showed that the crop yields ofspecial cultivated plants were increased by up to about 30 to 40% byincreasing the ionization or soil electricity. At the same time, it waspossible to reduce the seeding by 45%. In the case of Doppelnull-Raps(double zero rape), it was possible to reduce the toxic materials ofglucosinolates in the rape fruit to a minimum of about 7.9 micromoles,while the normal values are at about 20 to 25 micromoles.

The inventive soil conditioner not only increases yields, but, on thewhole, makes a contribution to protecting the environment by savingfertilizer (preserving underground water/preventing the breakdown ofozone), reactivating the soil, preventing the death of game that iscaused by the cultivate plant "Doppelnull-Raps" (double zero rape) anddecontamination (radioactivity). It therefore restores the ability ofthe soil to regenerate and acts in the soil as electrolyte and activatessick and weak soils. Moreover, it neutralizes acids in all types ofsoils, especially in arid sand soils, and serves to eliminate sulfuricacid (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides. By improving the biological synthesis ofammonia, it creates the possibility for the absorption of nutrients bymicroorganisms and maar roots to improve the soil biotop. By formingauxins, it furthermore creates an advantageous gas constant in the treeand root region and, in addition, affects the whole of the vegetationpositively. It has a high efficiency and produces extreme growth. Itincreases crop yields and improves the quality; it reduces the additionof fertilizer, decreases the toxins in the soil, in lakes and riversand, moreover, protects and improves the environment. In diluted form,it is harmless to insects and microorganisms. It should, however, beremembered that it ought not come into contact with mucous membranes orthe eyes of the persons using it.

In effect, the object of the invention is therefore accomplished to asurprisingly advantageous extent. In experiments extending over manyyears, it was possible to develop a soil activating agent, which alsoprevents forests dying off and contributes to the recovery of diseasedforest stands. Numerous experiments outside of the laboratory area inNiedersachsen and Nordrhein-Westfalen confirm that it visibly andmeasurably permits the recovery of already diseased soil.

The invention is described in greater detail by means of an example,which is directed to a field experiment with Doppelnull-Raps (doublezero rape).

EXAMPLE (FIELD EXPERIMENT)

In 1986, an experiment with 00 rape was carried out as follows insecrecy. Two experimental field of average quality were selected. Thetwo fields were about 4 hectare in size and lay next to one another.After the germination of the embryos, 1.6 Kg of the soil conditioner (20parts by weight of invert sugar (66% degree of inversion), mixed with 70parts by weight of 50% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution and 10 parts byweight of 25% aqueous acetic acid) with 1.600L of water were sprayedwith a mobile pressure spray on Sep. 13, 1986, on the sowing of the onefield (400L/hectare). On Mar. 20, 1987, it was observed that the plantshad survived the winter well and had suffered no damage due to frost orpollutants. On Jul. 7, 1987, extreme growth was observed for the plantson the treated field. The height was more than 2 m and the thickness ofthe stems was more than 2 cm.

The following results were observed on comparing the results:

    ______________________________________                                                    With Soil  Without Soil                                                       Conditioner*                                                                             Conditioner*                                           ______________________________________                                        Crop (Lidora)                                                                 Plant Height  200 cm       120 cm                                             Stem Thickness                                                                               2 cm         1.5 cm                                            Pod Length     10 cm        6 cm                                              Number of Grains                                                                             35          19                                                 Crop Yield     40 dz/hectare                                                                             27.5 dz/hectare                                    ______________________________________                                         *Additional lime/ammonia/potassium nitrate was added as fertilizer       

What is claimed is:
 1. A soil conditioner comprising a mixture of a soilcompatible electrolyte and an invert sugar having a degree of inversionof about 55% to about 75% in a ratio, by weight, of 20:1 to 1:10.
 2. Thesoil conditioner according to claim 1, wherein said electrolyte issodium acetate.
 3. The soil conditioner according to claim 1, whereinsaid invert sugar comprises inverted cane sugar having a degree ofinversion of about 60% to about 70%.
 4. The soil conditioner accordingto claim 1, wherein said mixture is present in an aqueous solution in aconcentration of about 0.1 to about 1.0% by weight of said solution. 5.The soil conditioner according to claim 1, wherein said mixture ispresent in an aqueous solution in a concentration of about 0.1% byweight of said solution.
 6. A method of using a soil conditionerprepared in accordance with claim 1, said method comprising exposing asoil to an effective amount of said soil conditioner to increase soilionization and cultivated plant yields.